One of my favorite items to pack wherever I travel is my sketchbook. It accompanies me on all expeditions – local cities, national parks, international trips, even to the beach. It is a way for me to immerse myself in whatever location I am visiting and then capture and portray the essence of that place. It is also a way for me to try out lettering styles that are native to the region and to flex my photography muscles.
National Parks
Each park I visit has it’s own distinct identity. It is important for me to convey that in my sketches. Whether with colors, shapes, or identifiable landmarks, each park has it’s own aesthetic and personality. The sketchbook is definitely important, but just as important is the background. I try to distill the essence of the place with a single background. This is especially challenging with such diverse landscapes within each park.
Cities
Whenever I travel to a new city, I bring my sketchbook along for the ride. It’s almost like planting your own personal flag saying “I was here”. It brings me so much joy to see my little book all around the world. In addition to chronicling each place, I sometimes decide to also represent an entire trip and all the places and activities it encompassed.
Travel Passion Project
Because I love to travel so much, I’ve also collected a variety of stories and created a passion project called Postcards for Pessimists. Feel free to check it out!